It’s not a trick question, but when was the last time you actually looked at your website?
Not the glance you took on your phone while waiting for your coffee. Not the time you checked to make sure the home page was still there. We mean really looked at it.
Because if your website has been quietly sitting in the background for the past few years, there’s a good chance it’s no longer working as hard as you think it is.
Your website is your digital shopfront. And just because it’s online doesn’t mean it’s still doing its job.
Imagine Your Walking Down the Street and find your favourite shop
Picture this. You walk into the front door excited at your find and immediately notice:
- The front door doesn’t open properly.
- The shelves are half empty.
- The staff photos include three employees who left more than four years ago
- The phone number on the footer doesn’t work.
- A sign advertises a service the business stopped offering in 2023.
- The lights flicker.
- The cash register is broken.
Chances are you will turn around and walk straight back out. Yet businesses often expect customers to trust a website that has the same problems.
The Little Things That Quietly Chip Away at Your Website
Most websites don’t suddenly stop working.
Problems tend to creep in gradually. A link stops working here. An image disappears there. A plugin needs updating. Before long, a handful of small issues can start affecting the way customers experience your business online.
Broken Links
Have you ever clicked a button expecting to find more information, only to end up on an error page?
It’s frustrating, and it happens more often than you might think.
Whether it’s a product page, a booking button or a menu item, broken links create unnecessary roadblocks for visitors and will make a business appear neglected.
Missing Images
Images can disappear for all sorts of reasons, including website updates, software changes or server issues.
A missing image might not seem like a major problem, but when customers can’t see your products, services or portfolio, it can leave your website looking unfinished and unprofessional.
Sometimes, it’s the smallest details that make the biggest impression. Unfortunately, that works both ways.
Outdated Team Pages
Businesses evolve. People change roles. Staff members move on. Many websites still proudly introduce team members who haven’t worked there for years.
Incorrect Contact Information
An old phone number, an outdated email address or the wrong business address. Small details create big frustrations.
If customers can’t contact you, they can’t buy from you.
Forms That No Longer Work
Contact forms break more often than many business owners realise.
The scary part? You may never know.
Potential customers could be filling out your enquiry form while their messages disappear into the digital void.
Slow Loading Pages
Modern customers are impatient. It’s no secret that humans have always been impatient, but we’re even worse now. We’re used to fast food, fast cars and even faster internet. If your website takes too long to load, many visitors won’t wait around to see what you have to offer.
Security and Software Updates
Software needs regular maintenance such as WordPress updates, plugin updates, security patches, SSL certificates and backups. Ignoring them is a little like deciding your car doesn’t need servicing because it’s still starting every morning. Technically, that strategy works. Until it doesn’t.
Your Business Has Changed. Has Your Website?
Many businesses have evolved significantly over the past few years.
You’ve added services and changed your pricing. You may have expanded your team or downsized. Your branding has undergone a makeover, and you’ve finally deleted your Twitter account. What if you’ve introduced new products and discontinued others?
Yet your website is still telling the story of the business you were three years ago. Your website should grow with your business.
A Simple Five-Minute Website Audit
Open your website and ask yourself these questions:
- Is all the information accurate?
- Do all the links work?
- Are all the images displaying correctly?
- Is your contact information up to date?
- Are your services still relevant?
- Does your website load quickly?
- Have your plugins and software been updated?
- Can customers easily contact you?
- Does your website still reflect your brand?
If you answered “I’m not sure” to several of those questions, it’s probably time for a maintenance check.
Your Website Should Be Working While You're Sleeping
Your website should be your hardest-working employee.
It should be attracting visitors, answering questions, generating leads and building trust around the clock.
But it can’t do that if it’s outdated, broken or vulnerable.
Ready to Give Your Website a Health Check?
At XDesigns Advertising, we help businesses keep their websites secure, updated and performing the way they should through our monthly maintenance plans, including software updates, security monitoring, backups, performance optimisation, uptime monitoring, content updates and ongoing support. These plans are designed to keep your website functional, secure and current while you focus on running your business.
Visit the XDesigns Website Maintenance Packages page to explore the options available and find the right level of support for your business.
